2008 Woodie Awards
Business school receives $10 million
Laura Houser
Issue date: 1/15/08 Section: Campus
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According to Alan Oak, assistant dean of external relations at the business school, the gift will go toward equipping a student commons area as well as a library and technology center in the Farmer School's new building, which is set to be completed by
fall 2009.
Both spaces will be named for the donors.
Roger Jenkins, dean of the Farmer School, said in an e-mail that Forsythe's gift will be used in creating and naming two "premier" spaces in the new building.
"This $10 million gift from Rick and Sandy is an extremely generous gift for which faculty, staff and students in the Farmer School are very grateful," Jenkins said.
Forsythe graduated from Miami in 1961 with a B.S. in economics, jumping into a position at IBM after graduation. With his partner, Jim McArthur, Forsythe then founded the company that would later become Forsythe Technology, which offers both technology equipment and consulting services.
According Jenkins, Forsythe was an early supporter of Miami's entrepreneurship program, and he and his wife have both maintained a close relationship with Jenkins since Jenkins' first year at Miami, despite living and working in the Chicago area.
Currently, Forsythe sits on the board of advisers for the Thomas C. Paige Center for Entrepreneurship, and has for the past 10 years. According to Oak, Forsythe was also recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year by the Paige Center.
Already, Forsythe has donated $1 million to endow the Richard Forsythe Distinguished Professorship in Entrepreneurship, which is now held by Jill Kickul.
According to Oak, the technology center will provide a fully up-to-date computer lab that any students, regardless of their major, could use. The library will include reference materials, and is a facility not currently found in the business school.
Oak said that allowing non-business students to use the space would benefit all students.
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